Waiving the application fee

The are a few types of students that are eligible for a CUNY Application fee waiver.

1. Current CUNY College students: If you’re currently enrolled at a CUNY College and intend to transfer without a gap in your enrollment, answer the CUNY Enrollment question on the application to waive your application fee. Note: please be sure to add the courses you are currently taking in order for your application fee to be waived.
2. Current New York City Public School (NYCPS) students: To request an application fee waiver, have the student select ‘Pay Later’ and submit their application. Please submit the Fee Waiver Request Form to counselor@cuny.edu for all students who receive free or reduced lunch and need their application waived. No supporting documentation is required.
3. Current Non-New York City Public School or New York State students: To request an application fee waiver, have the student select ‘Pay Later’ and submit their application. Please review the income guidelines in this form and submit the Fee Waiver Request Form with supporting eligibility documents for each student to counselor@cuny.edu.
4. Students from outside of New York State: Fee waivers are limited to students in New York State.
5. Veterans and spouses of veterans: Answer the US Military Status question on the application and upload proof of service in the supporting documents section of the application to receive a waiver. Acceptable forms of proof are DD-214, current Military ID Card, Deployment Orders or Pre-separation Orders. Spouses of veterans can provide Form 1173/1173-1 as proof of military affiliation.
6. Economic Hardship for applicants not in high school or not enrolled at a CUNY College: The City University of New York (CUNY) can provide a limited number of undergraduate application fee waivers each academic year to applicants not currently attending a NYC/NYS high school.

Eligibility: The following applicants who reside in New York State may qualify for a hardship fee waiver:

• • • Applicants in foster care, ward of the state or county
    • Applicants residing in a homeless shelter
    • Applicants receiving public assistance (NYCHA, Section 8, Government Subsidized housing, Supplemental Security Income)
    • Applicants who are unemployed or dependents of unemployed parent(s) receiving unemployment benefits
    • Applicants that meet the income guidelines for Opportunity Programs (SEEK) and College Discovery (CD) (see Financial Eligibility Guidelines below) *
    • Formerly incarcerated/Justice impacted Individuals are eligible for a fee waiver with a copy of their release paper.

* Financial Eligibility Guidelines Academic Year 2024/2025

Note: For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $9,509 for each additional person.

Required Supporting Documentation : The supporting documentation will be required with your hardship fee waiver request (Important: please remove any personal data such as DOB and Social Security Numbers in order to ensure the privacy of the applicant):

• • • Foster Care: Letter from foster care agency verifying the applicant’s foster care status
    • Homeless/Living in a shelter: Letter from social worker verifying the applicant’s residency
    • Unemployment: Copy of unemployment benefits letter
    • CUNY Opportunity Program/Income Eligibility Guidelines: Copy of 1040 Federal Income Tax Return
    • Public Assistance: Copy of a budget letter
    • Formerly incarcerated: Copy of their release paper

Applicant Steps to Submit an Application for Hardship Fee Waiver Request

Applicants requesting an application fee waiver for hardship must submit their application before requesting a waiver. The applicant will need to choose “Pay Later” on the fee payment section of the admission application and submit their application. Applicants should then submit a brief e-mail request with the required supporting documentation and their CUNYfirst ID to: feewaiver@cuny.edu. Important: please remove any personal data such as DOB and Social Security Numbers from the documentation in order to ensure the privacy of the applicant. Hardship requests will be reviewed on a first-come first-serve basis, and the applicant will be notified of a decision via e-mail within 5-7 business days.